Ratchet mechanism



F. A. 0ST.

RATCHET MECHANISNI. APPLICATION FILED IULY 15,1918- RENEWED MAR. I4, 192|.

1,393,692, Patented ont 11, 1921.

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UNITED STATES PATENT orties.

FREDERIQK A. 0ST, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

RATGHET MECHAIN' ISM.

Application filed July 15, 1918, Serial No. 244,914. Renewedv March 14, 1921. Serial No. 452,232.

T 0 all fau/fomit may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. OST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ratchet Mechanism, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to ratchet mechanism for use with lifting jacks and devices where ratchets may be used, and in which an operating handle is reciprocated and made to engage by the pressure of the handle a ratchet wheel which in turn is revolved to produce the raising and lowering effortofthe jack, or the revolving of a shaft or the like.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a swinging handle member which by eccentric wedging action will mechanically engage the ratchet wheel to prevent reversal in one direction, but allowing free movement in the other without slipping and with a maximum amount of working surface and a minimum movement of the operating lever. Important other objects are simplicity of construction and greater strength and effectiveness in use.

Further objects of this invention will be apparent from the following description, and to these ends this invention comprises the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a lifting jack equipped with my invention, a portion, thereof being broken away and in section; Fig. 2 is a plan partly in section; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line X-X of Fig. 1, the broken line position indicating free and reversed position of handle member; Fig. 4 is a plan of the ratchet actuating balls and spring, and Fig. 5 is a perspective of the two side members forming part of my invention.

In the drawing let A indicate the housing of a lifting jack of any suitable construction having the usual lifting element 2, which is raised or lowered by any suitable internal mechanism not shown to impart a lifting or lowering effort, a revoluble shaft 3, operating the internal mechanism, and projecting from the side of said casing, it being understood that the turning of the shaft 3, in one ydirection produces a lifting effort in a reverse direction lowers said ram.

The turning of the shaft 3, is produced y by the reciproca-tion of a lever handle such as B, which is detachably inserted in the socket of handle member C, the handle member forming part of a pivot journal D, and two oppositely disposed projections 4 and 4 having serrations 5 and 5 in a radii to correspond with serrations 6, on ratchet wheel F, said serrations running parallel with the axis of the pivot journal D. Interposed between handle member, socket C and pivot journal D is a passage 7, parallel with the aXis of pivot journal D, and adapted to carry ratchet actuating balls 8 and 9, which are pressed outwardly by a spring 10.

The two side members G are j ournaled on shaft 3, and are held at a predetermined distance spaced apart by bushing 11, and bolt 12, inserted through holes 14, at one end, and by pivot bolt E, through holes 15, at its other end. Recesses 16 are .cut on the inner side walls on a radius from the center of holes 15 to partly receive the ratchet actu ating balls 8 and 9. Between these side members G ratchet wheel F, is placed over the shaft 3 and secured to the latter by suitable keys 13. The periphery of the ratchet wheel is formed with serrations 6, with which the serrations 5 and 5 correspond. Pvoted on bolt E, is mounted a journal end D, of handle member C. This handle member is adapted to swing on pivot E, in either direction until in locking connection with ratchet wheel F, as shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 3. At apredetermined distance, spring 10, acting on balls 8 and 9, force the latter into recesses 16, allowing free movement of the handle member in direction of ratchet wheel, but semi-locking handle member and side members G, causing the latter to swing on shaft 3 by swinging the handle member away from the ratchet wheel.

In operating ratchet to revolve shaft 3, producing a lifting eifort or lowering effort of ram 2, the handle member is swung in the desired direction. Pressure exerted on handle member C, will positively lock same with ratchet wheel F, causing shaft 3 to turn, the greater the pressure on handle member the more positive the locking action. Reciprocating handle will produce a ratcheting effect.

,In accordance with the patent statutes have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses` other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

Having described 4my invention, what IV vclaim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: l

1. In a device ofthe class described, a drive shaft, a wheel on said shaft having a serrated periphery, side members journaled on said shaft and having recesses, a pivotally swinging handle member inter posed between said side members, ratchet actuatingballs carried by said handle member adapted to releasably engage said side members in said recesses to produce a ratchet engagement in either direction, and means for holding said side members spaced apart, said handle member having angularly located serrated projections adapted to be forced intov locking connection with the periphery of said wheelin either direction.

2. In a 'device of the class described, a

Adrive shaft, a wheel on said shaft having a serrated periphery, two side members jour naled on said shaft having :a recess, a handle member pivotally mounted on said side members having a receptacle, a ratchet actuating element in said receptacle, and resilient means carried in said receptacle arranged to releasably urge said ratchet element into said recess in said side member for rotating said side members in either direction on the idle stroke of the handle member.

In` testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERICK A. osr. 

